of residence. It is called safar (travel) because a person thereby comes out into the open: instead of being concealed within his home, he becomes visible, apparent, and exposed. Hence Allah the Exalted says:
“And by the dawn as it brightens.” [Surah al-Muddaththir]
That is, when it becomes clear and manifest.
Some scholars have said that travel is called safar because it reveals people’s character—that is, it makes it clear and evident. For many people, one does not come to know their character or good conduct except by travelling with them. Some of the judges among the early generations, when someone testified to another’s uprightness, would ask him, “Have you travelled with him?” If he replied, “No,” he would ask, “Have you dealt with him in business or other transactions?” If he replied, “No,” he would say, “Then you do not know him.”
Travel thus reveals people’s character. How many a person do you see every day in your town, observing him without knowing anything of his character or dealings? Yet when you travel with him, his character and dealings become clear to you—especially in earlier times, when journeys would last many days. As for travel today, it does not reveal people’s character, for a flight from Riyadh to al-Qassim takes thirty-five minutes. Rather, it is long journeys that reveal what people are truly like.
His statement, “a permissible journey”: this is the first condition for shortening the prayer. What is meant here by permissible is that which is neither prohibited nor disliked. Thus, it includes what is obligatory, recommended, and unconditionally permissible, because journeys fall into five categories:
- Prohibited.
- Disliked.